Liquid treatment



Nov. 19, 1946. F. D. PRAGER LIQUID TREATMENT Filed April 3, k1944 fill IN V EN TOR.

F. D. PRAGER LIQUID TREATMENT Filed April :5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 19, 1946 LIQUID TREATMENT Frank D. Prager, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Graver Tank & Mfg. Co., Inc., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application April 3, 1944, Serial N0. 529,333

13 Claims. l

This invention relates to liquid treatment and particularly to the removal of` impurities from liquids by precipitation, aided by sludge filtration and recirculation.

It is an important object of this invention to improve over previous devices for distributing liquid flows to be exposed to sludge filtration, particularly in large tanks.

It is one Aparticular object hereof to transfer liquid mixed with chemicals and sludge from the central to the peripheral part of a treatment tank in a manner involving the least possible obstruction to the necessary flows in the clarification and sludgefiltration zone contained in the tank.

Another particular object is to transfer such materials from-a central to a peripheral part in a manner which allows the use 'of an emcient and economical type of sludge scraping equipment Another object is to provide improved inlets or outlets in an annular channel zone surrounding a sludge filtration tank.

Still other objects will appear from the following description.

In the drawings,

2 of the tank. The lower` part of the column is imperforate but a number of steel pipes 28 communicate with the lower part of the downfiow zone I8 within the hollow column and extend radially `within` the concrete bottom: II, and having their ends welded to the pipes. In earlier constructions, somewhat similar flow passage means were installed in upper parts of the tank. When so in stalled they obstructed the upward flow in said upper parts; they tended to interfere with certaindesirable types of rotating scraper assem-4 blies; and moreover their installation in such Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of one embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial section, along lines 3-3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation of a modified embodiment.

The tank I0 has a flat circular bottom II of re inforced concrete. The side wall I2 ls cylindrical and made of steel. A'lower portion I8 of the wall is an inverted cone frustum vmade of -concrete, upstandingrr from the periphery of the bottom II. The bottom II has a slight inward slope to facilitate an occasional draining of the tank. A thin layer of fine grout I6 forms the upper part of this bottom; this grout being applied in a plastic condition when the rough concrete work has been completed. A proper, dat or smooth top upper parts involved expensive means and methods of construction. The absence of such pipes in the upper part of the tank is one of the advantages of the present invention.

Adjacent to the concrete column I1 and concentrically surrounding the same I provide a steel drum 22. forming an upow zone 23 between this drum and the column. This upflow zone communicates with a lower, central part of the tank, by means of the lower, open end 22-A of the drum 22. The two zones I8 and 23 may be re-` ferred to as parts of a'central now collecting zone, in view of the operation to be described hereinafter. The two members I'I and 22, which are centrally located, annular wall means con Y ning said rspective zones, are similarly classifiable as parts of a central flow collector means. Thelower, open end 22-A of the drum 22 forms the inlet of this flow collector means I'I, 22, or more specifically, the inlet of the upowportion thereof. Concentrically with the wall I2 and adjacent this wall I provide a large steel drum, baille, wall or,l partition 24. forming an annular peripheral channel zone 25 between the wall I2 surface I5 of the bottom, for the uniform accumulation and quiescent scraping ofi of settled sludge, is obtained by rotating the sludge scraper assembly I8 over this grout before the grout has solidied. 'Thereafter the sludge scraperlmassembly is raised a fraction `of an inch. b

Concentrically. with the tank, a concrete co1- umn Il extends upwardly from the bottom II. This column, and the central part of the bottom below it, are hollow, providing a cylindrical, cen-- tral downilow zone I8.Openings I9 are provided in the top of the column, slightly below the top and the drum 24. The drums 22 and 24, or parts integral therewith, extend downwardly, respectively, to points28 and'2l at suitable elevations above the surface I8. ak clarificationl zone or chamber 28' is formed by and within the outer drum 24, outside the inner drum 22. This clariiication zone has much greater area and volume than the peripheral channel 28, which in turn is considerably larger than any of the other zones of the tank, in orderl to insure proper flow velocities, as will be explained hereinafter. The downfiow zone I8 receives raw liquid thru the inlet pipe 29 which enters thru the bottom II into a part 'of this zone, above the bottom thereof, centrally of the inner ends 2li-A of the several steel pipes 2l). Thus the flow from the peripheral channel 25 through discharge openings 30 which are uniformly distributed along the channel and which are located above -the lower limit 21 of the outer drum 24, but below the top of the tank, Adjacent each opening 30 the respective steel pipe 28 merges intoA a discharge chamber 3| cored into the concrete of the conical wall I3 and discharging into the periphv eral channel 25 in uniform upward and lateral directions, about 45 degrees inclined from the horizontal. As a result, the liquid is injected-into the peripheral channel in a plurality of inclined jets, tending to produce a general horizontal rtation, and local up anddown agitation of the liquid in the peripheral channel.

This jety action with up and down agitation is substantially confined to the peripheral channel, by virtue of the aforementionedouter drum 24 extending to the level 21 below the discharge openings 30, but the general horizontal rotation in the peripheral channel tends to continue in ,the clarification zone 28, .as the rotating liquidv enters this zone thru a long and wide slot 32,

. between the surface I5 and the lower edge of the outer drum. Accordingly, the liquid tends to continue its rotation in the bottom part of the clarification zone 28, but this continued'rotation can be prevented, or can be deected into vertical circulations, and ultimately stopped, by deiiecting bailies 33 which are known from earlier constructions. Such deiiecting baffles can be located at and extend to any desired points outside or inside of the large drum 24, depending on whether the sludge formed in the processand to be suspended in the sludge bed. is relatively light or heavy, requiring Vmore or less of saidvertical circulations in the clarification zone 28. A suspended sludge bed 34 is provided and maintained and suction below the same. As a result, a stream yof air and liquid rises in the upiiow zone 23;

air escapes at the top of that zone; liquid ows l through the openings I9 down thru the central inthe clarification zone in known mannen'and the liquid percolates thru the sludge bed, in a generally upward direction. Treated liquid is withdrawn above the sludge bed 34 by overow weirs 35 with effluent launders 36 of known construction. g

Once that the tank is lled the weirs 35 prevent the liquid level 31 from falling below said weirs. The liquid level 31 is prevented from rising above the top of the tank by conventional control means, not shown. 'Ihe inner drum 22 extends above the liquid level 31, and the outer drum or baille 24 is integral with one wall 24A of the outermost Alaunder 36, which wall also extends above the liquid level 31. By means of this arrangement, the peripheral channel 25 and the central upflow zone 23 communicate with the clarification zone 28 only in the lower parts thereof. .This forces all of the -rotating liquid from the peripheral channel to enter the bottom relatively high pressure above the airA lift device downow Zone I8 in the hollow column; thenoutwardly thru the radial steel pipes 20, then around the peripheral channel 25, with local 4up and down currents,"then`inwardly and rotatingly over the bottom of the clarification and sludge :ed zone, and finally back into the upiiow zone 3. The velocity of this circulation is suitably regulated by control means, not shown, in the supplyl line for compressed air leading to the airy lift device 38, y,in manner known from earlier construction. The several parts of the tank are so dimensioned that the circulating ilow is rela' tively rapid in the up and downflow zones and in the radial pipes, suitably slower in the peripheral channel, and still slower over the bottom of the sludge bed zone.l In general, the aggregate or total iiow area of the several pipes 20 equals the area of theK downiiow zone and this in turn equals the area of the upflow zone, these areas being so dimensioned that with proper amounts of liquid recirculated, the liquid velocities thru these areas amount to about 2 feet per second, with at least 50% variation plus or minus, depending on local conditions. The velocities in the peripheral channel and over the bottom 0f the tank generally range downward from '1 foot per second to only a few inches, or sometimes fractional inches per second. In the upper parts of the peripheral channel and clarication zone, the preferred velocities amount to only a few inches per minute,

`at most. However, a. somewhat higher velocity and agitation can be tolerated in the top of the channel, which serves for scum release, than in the clarification zone, due to the relatively rapid rising rate of even minute air bubbles agglomerated with scum particles.

Any chemical re-agents needed to precipitate the sludge are added to the circulating liquid by the pipe 33 terminating adjacent the top ofthe upflow zone, Where rapid and complete mixing is insured by vanes 40, deiiecting the rising stream of air and liquid into a horizontal rotation, in the top of the upflow zone. These vanes and the horizontal liquid rotation which they set up, serve also to dampen any surges of the air and liquid stream, whereby they prevent any drops of liquid from being projected upwardly over the top of the the same.

The circulating liquid, which' carries any required chemicals, spirals down the central zone within thel hollow column, and meets the raw liquid entering the inlet pipes to be mixed with Mixing energy and turbulence is insured by the iiow velocity of the circulating liquid,

and any continuing rotation thereof. Due to this turbulence, the several constituents are intimately mixed in the bottom part of the downow zore. Turbulence and agitation continue in the vradial flow passages 20. Agitation'with suitably lower velocity prevails in the peripheral channel and at the bottom of the sludge bed 34, and some minute agitation continues in the sludge bed itself. The slowest liquid velocities are maintained above this bed, in the large, unobstructed upper part of the clarification zone. Under conditions of overload and the like, there may be a, tendency for certain sectors or constituents of thesludge bed to boil up toward the water level, but due to the large and unobstructed construction and other features of this apparatus, suchtendencies are low column il.

emciently checked and the apparatus delivers treated and clarifiectliquid at increased flow rates. as compared with earlier devices operating under comparableI conditions.

Generally I prefer to control the liquid velocities in the clarication zone so as to allow and force the largest `sludge particles to settle out on the dat surface I5. Frequently some sludge tends to settle also in the peripheral channel, between the discharge openings 30. In al1 other parts of .the tank, liquid velocities are such as -to prevent sedimentation of sludge. Any sludge sediment from the peripheral channel slides down the inclined wall i3 and collects on the flat surface l5, together with the sludge from the clarification zone 28. All this sludge is scraped from the at surface l5 by the scraper assembly I6, which rotates slowly around the central column H, and shifts the settled sludge into a sump M, formed in the bottom il adjacent the central column. From here the sludge is ultimately withdrawn thru a pipe d2 with suitable, well known controls, not shown. The rotary velocity of the scraper assembly l 5 is selected to prevent any undesirable stirring up, or deecting, of sludge and liquid currents in the clarification zone..

The scraper assembly i6 is fastened to the lower part of the drum 22 which rotates slowly together with the scraper assembly, and which is supported by bearing'members 43;4 these bearing members in turn being supported by the hol- By means of this central, elevated bearing support, the weight lof the scraper assembly, which may amount to several tons,'is emciently balanced and absorbed.

The scraper assembly is preferably driven by a traction drive assembly/.list of known construction, adjacent the side wall l2. It will he noted that with the aforementioned prior construction, using distributing pis in the top oi' the tank, it was impossible to provide such desirable and eilcient traction drives, inasmuch as the distributing pipes interfered with such a traction drive.

The general advantages of traction drives are well known and will not be described. A special advantage resides in the fact that such a drive is most conveniently provided witha scum removal blade t5 depending from the outer parts of the traction drive on top of the peripheral channel 25 and suitably cooperating with a stationary scum shelf and trough #6in the same channel (see Fig. 3); both blade and trough generally. being installed in substantially radial directions across the top of the channel (see Fig.

2) and the trough being suitably emptied by a pipe di. The chemical treatment, particularly in connection with the air lift, promotes flotation of relatively light particles, and such particles are readily released in the peripheral channel 25. Quiescent conditions are established in the top of this channel, by means of radial varies 48, which may also support the large baille fl and parts mounted thereon.

In the modification of Fig. 4, the large peripheral baille does not have to extend downwardly to points 2l below the discharge openings Sil, as in the preferred embodiment. In this modication the large baille 50 has only spaced lower portions 5l extending downwardly topoints below said openings, while large windows 52, of considerable height are provided between said spaced portions 5l. This may be desirable, above all, in relatively deep tanks, and where a large area is not so readily provided. With this arrangement, a relatively deep layer of liquid and sludge will rotate in the lower parts of the sludge bed. As a result, the volume of the peripheral channel 25 can be made smaller, by reducing the width and area' thereof, and adequate fiocculation is still provided. Desirably, the windows 52 are located between the and the solid lower skirts 5| in front of said discharge openings, sothat the up-and-down flows 54, produced by the liquid jets 53'in the channel, may not interfere with the necessary, relatively quiescent conditions inside of the large baille 50. Of course, the liquid iiows 55 entering this inner space may have any desired velocity, depending on the size of the windows 52.

In order to prevent any settled sludge from collecting behind the ,baille skirts 5|, in the peripheral channel, these skirts do not merge with the tank bottom, but allow the sludge to slide down the inclined wall i3 and into `the inner space, in a flow shown at 56.

The modified embodiment includes also a system of auxiliary or alternative iow passage means 5l, extending from the central mixing zone to points above the liquid level 31 and discharging recirculated liquid in directions tangential of the channel, through outlet L fittings 58, whereby the recirculated liquid can be inspected and sampled.

It is often desirable rto provide at least one recirculating pipe 2li with such a sampling arrangement, for close control over the condition of the circulating fioc. Itis not quite sucient, in many instances, periodically to sample the lloc in the channel 25, although this should be done also. It is inherent in the' rapid chemical mixing stage, through which the circulating iioc must pass, that the i'loc is broken up to some extent. In the presence of proper chemical and pH conditions, the comminuted fioc is promptly built up again, as soon as flow conditions of less turbulence are established; that is, upon discharge into the peripheral channel. In fact, more settleable ultimate locs are formed in this without any breakup of fiocs.

Withthe modied arrangement it is easy to sample both the comminuted iioc discharged at 58 and the re-occulated particles in the top of the channel 2d. Such sampling of the comminuted ioc is preferable over the prior method frequently used in plants of this general type, wherein small sampling pipes, independent from the main flow passages, are brought to the several owsto be sampled. This earlier method furnishes inderiinite samples. due to the additional, indefinite comminution of ocs in the separate' sampling pipes. It is preferable to use-the combined now passage and sampling pipe 5l, either alone or suitably alternating with the pipes 2li.

manner than Of course, all this is possible only if the skim.-v

ming device d5, d6 can be eliminated. In some cases it is preferable -to have that skimming device, and in others, to provide the sampling iiow passages.

Various other modications will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In a liquid treatment tank, a bottom having a substantially nat circular top surface for the uniform accumulation of settled sludge; a side wall upstanding from a peripheral part of said.

bottom; an annular baille downwardly extending in the tank to define a channel outside said baille and a clarification chamber inside the same, said baiiie being so located that said channel has condischarge openings 30,l

into the peripheral channel,

anneau d Vsiderably less area than said chamber, and said baffle terminating above said bottom so that the lower part of said channel communicates with the lower part of said chamber; flow collector means in the tank, having an inlet in a lower, central portion of said chamber and comprising centrally located, annular wall means in the tank;

, a set of ow passages extending below said surface, communicating with and outwardly radiatf ing from said now collector means, and also communicating with said channel by means of discharge openings distributed along said channel,

the total flow areaof said flow passages being considerably less' than that of said channel; means to circulate liquid from said clarification chamber into said flow collector means, outwardly through said dow passages, through said channel,

Ainwardly over said surface, and back into said 3. In a liquid treatment tank, a bottom having a. substantially hat circular surface for the 4uniformy accumulation of settled sludge; a side wall upstanding from a peripheral part of said bottom; an annular bao downwardly extending in the tank to denne a channel outside said bale and a, clarification chamber inside the same, said bale terminating above said bottom so that the lower part of said channel communicates with the lower partof said chamber; a column extend-A ingupwardly from said bottom in the center of the tank, said column and the central portion of the bottom below it being hollow; a drum concentrically surrounding said column, extending and meansto rotate 5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means to circulate liquid is supported by said column.V g

6. In a liquid treatment tank, a bottom; a side wall upstanding from a peripheral part of said bottom; -a substantially cylindrical baiile concentrically installed in the tank to define a channel outside said baille 'and a clarification chamber inside the same, said baiile being so located that said channel has considerably less area than said chamber, 'and said baffle terminating above said bottom so that the lower part of saidchannel communicates with the lower'part of said chamber; flow collector means in the tank, having an inlet in a lower, central portion of said chamber and comprising centrally located, annular wall means in the tank; a set of ow passages extending through said bottom, communicating with and outwardly radiating vfrom said flow collector means, and also communicating with said channel by means of discharge openings distributed along said channel, the total flow area of said dow passages being considerably less thanl that of said channel; means to circulate liquid from said clarication chamber into said ilow collector means, outwardly through said iiow passages, through said channel, inwardly-over said bottom, and back into said now collector means; means to deliver liquid to be treated and any chemical discharge openings from the top of the tank to above but relatively adjacent said bottom, and so arranged that the space within the drum communicates with the.

inside of said hollow column, whereby said drum and column provide a flow collector having an inlet in a lower, central portion of said chamber;-

a set of flow passages extendingl through said bottom, communicating with and outwardly radiating from an inner, lower partof said flow collector, and also communicating with said channel by means of discharge openings distributed along said channel, the total :dow-area of said flow passages being considerably less than that of said channel; means to deliver liquid to be treated and any chemical reagents required into said ilow collector; means to circulate liquid from said clarication chamber into said flow collector, outwardly through said flow passages, through said channel, inwardly 'over said surface, and lback into said ow collector; outlet means for treated liquid in the top of said chamber; a sludge outlet sump in said bottom; a sludge scraper assembly rotatably disposed ov'r said surface to scrape sludge into said sump; and means to rotate Isaid assembly.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said drum, concentrically surrounding said:l column, is rotatably supported thereby, and forms part of said sludge scraper assembly.

reagents required into the circulating liquid; outlet means for treated liquid in the top of said chamber; and sludge outlet means in a lower part of said tank.

'7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said discharge openings are located in said wall, opposite said bale.

.58. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said discharge in directions at least comprising inward components.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said discharge openings discharge' in directions at least comprising upward components.

10. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said discharge openings discharge in directions comprising at least components tangential of said baille.

11. In a liquid treatment tank, a bottom; a side wall upstanding bottom; an annular baffle downwardly extending in the tank to define a channel outside said baille and a clarlcation chamber inside thesame, said baille being so arranged that said channel has an means; means to deliver of said flow passages beingconsiderably less than that of said channel; means to circulate liquid from said clarification chamber into said flow collector means, outwardly through lsaid now passages, through said channel, inwardly over said bottom, and back into said flow collector liquid to be treated and any chemical reagents required into the circulating liquid; outlet means for treated liquid in the top. of said chamber; sludge outlet means in slower part of said chamber; a substantially stafrom a peripheral part of said said baille terminating above said aaneen tionary scum trough in the top o? said channel; a movable scum blade associated with said trough; power means .to move said blade along the top of said channel; and an outlet for said trough. v

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 comprising a stationary scum shelf associated with said trough, said shelfA and troughV spanning the top of said channel, and said power means being adapted to move said blade along 'the top of said l0 channel, up said shelf, and over said trough.

i3. Apparatus according to claim il compris1 FRANK D. PRAGER. 

